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Find out more about SSE

SSE’s purpose is to responsibly provide the energy and related services needed now and in the future. It aims to be a leading provider of energy and related services in a low-carbon world. Its strategy is to create value for shareholders and society from developing, owning and operating energy and related infrastructure and services in a sustainable way. These are the four pillars of the SSE strategy. Delivery of this strategy is dependent on the shared talent, skills and values of people throughout SSE.

At a glance

Creating value for shareholders and society

SSE’s vision is to be a leading energy provider in a low-carbon world. To achieve this we have set four fundamental goals for 2030 which put sustainability at heart of SSE’s business strategy. These goals aren’t just important to SSE, they matter to everyone – that’s why they are directly linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Find out more about how we are building a better world of energy for the future in this section of the website.

At a glance

Investing in Communities

SSE is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work. We understand we must contribute positively to this society by being an active contributor to the communities that we are part of.

This section of our website provides examples and case studies of how we serve the communities we operate in.

At a glance

Our strategy

SSE's strategy is to deliver the efficient operation of, and investment in, a balanced range of economically-regulated and market-based businesses in energy production, storage, transmission, distribution, supply and related services in the energy markets in Great Britain and Ireland.

Foyers

Category: Renewables

Energy type: Hydro

Project type: Asset

Foyers Pumped Storage Power Station is located on the banks of Loch Ness and has the capacity to generate 305MW. It is controlled remotely from SSE’s Renewable Operations Centre in Perth and can quickly respond to peaks in demand. If required, it can supply 300,000 kW of electricity within 30 seconds. The power station houses two 150MW sets located in separate 50.2m deep elliptical shafts.

Pumped storage schemes, like Foyers, involves two bodies of water at different heights. During period of low demand for power, electricity is used to pump water from the lower loch to the upper reservoir. The water is released to create energy at a time when demand is high.

Completed in 1975, the Foyers pumped storage scheme uses Loch Mhor Dam as its upper reservoir. Originally Loch Mhor Dam was built to provide a storage reservoir for the Falls of Foyers scheme, developed in 1896.

The scheme became the first hydro-electric powered aluminium smelter in the UK and by 1911 one third of the world’s aluminium was produced in the Highlands. Before the large scale development of hydro power in the highlands many homes did not have electricity, and hydro stations, including Foyers, helped to bring it to homes across the North of Scotland.

Loch Mhor Dam celebrated its 120th birthday in 2016 making it the oldest member of SSE’s Hydro assets.

Foyers fast facts

When Foyers is generating, water is allowed to flow through tunnels from Loch Mhor through two miles of tunnels and shafts to the power station.

When pumping, energy is drawn from the main transmission system at times of low load to drive two 150MW machines in reverse direction and pump water from Loch Ness up to Loch Mhor.

The power station houses the two 150MW machines in separate 50.2m deep elliptical shafts. The Scott monument in Edinburgh would easily be accommodated in one of these shafts.

When generating at full load, 200 cubic metres per second of water – or 200 tonnes per second – is passed into Loch Ness.